Salmonella sent to Clinton in mail

Ex-President Bill Clinton received a vial of salmonella in the post, it was reported today.

The dramatic news came just hours after America's State Department issued a new worldwide anthrax alert as the number of people and places infected appeared to be spiralling out of control.

It is understood the former president did not come into contact with the bacteria after receiving the vial containing a substance that tested positive for salmonella in the mail.

The package, received three weeks ago at Clinton's Harlem office, is not believed to be connected to the series of anthrax letters that have led to the deaths of three people and a number of infections since the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

"The operating assumption is that this is simply a crank ... package sent to the former president with some substance that the authorities have identified ... that was in the vial, spoiled as a result of this package sitting around in a mailroom and then tested positive for salmonella," CNN reported.

Mr Clinton never came close to the package and none of his aides got sick, the TV network added.

Salmonella, a bacteria which can prove deadly for young children and people with weakened immune systems, is usually found in eggs, meat and poultry.